$52.5 bln spent on direct mail in 2004

According to Direct Marketing Association, acquisition mailing made up 70% of the $52.5 bln marketers spent on direct mail during 2004. The Direct Marketing Association anticipates a conservative 5.2% growth rate, while the Winterberry Group predicts 7.5% growth in direct mail, all direct response advertising through the mail, including postcards, catalogs and letters, which represents over 23% of total United States direct response advertising spending. Among vertical industries, insurance financial marketers are seen as leading mail uses growth between 2002 and 2007, with an anticipated 8.4% compound annual growth rate, followed by hospitality marketers at 7.6%.